Improved rudder-case for navigable vessels



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE. a

SAMUEL L. FOSTER, OF BRISTOL, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO E. IV. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED RUDDER-CASE FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,319, dated SeptembelI 17, 1861.

To @ZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. FOSTER, of Bristol, in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Navigable Vessels; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is atop view, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a rear elevation, of a sternpost provided with my invention, which has referencewto the fixation of the rudder-case and the proper adjustment of the rudder therein.

The difficulties of `the proper application or iixation of a rudder-case to the stern-post and deck are well known to ship-builders, as also the diliculty of preventing injury to the case by the rudder especially, as the head of the latter may become worn.

IVith my invention the security ot the rudder-case is not only effectually obtained, but the centralization of the rudder with respect to the case can be effected at any time when necessary. Although I employ friction-rolt ers to support the head or post of the rudder, I do not claim them for such purpose.

In the drawings, A exhibits a part of the deck, while B is a part of the stern-post extending below such deck, C being the ruddercase, which, generally speaking, is a cylindrical tube ot' metal, copper being usually preferred. The case O is made with a iiange or lip a, projecting` outwardly from its upper edge. This lip rests against the lower side or surface of an annular frame D, which is constructed with an internal passage or opening whose diameter is equal to that of the interior or bore of the rudder-case. The said trame D not only carries a series of frictionrollers b b b, arranged in a circle, but is supported by a plate K, fastened to the deck by screws or bolts m m. Each of the said rollers h turns on a screw-pin c, which passes down through the center of the roller and a wedged circular collar d, the latter being placed on t'he upper surface of the frame D or a part c thereof, which inclines inward, as shown in Fig. 2. Each pin c at itsv lower end screws into a clamp f, which rests on another inclined surface g and extends over or laps on a ring or ring-section h, placed against `the under surface of the lip e. The hole a (made through the frame D) for the reception of each pin c is elongated in the direction of the radius ot such frame, in order that the friction-roller of such pin may be moved toward the center of the frame, as occasion may require, in order to bring the roller to bear Vagainst the rudder-head. By screwing downward the said pins the clamps will not only be made to confine the head of the rudder-case in place, but will at the same time secure the friction-rollers in position, the inclined surfaces e and g operating to prevent any backward movement 'of the friction-roller. i

The lower end of the inner half of the rudder-case enters a groove It, made in a metallic socketpiece or half-ring H, which is let into the stern-post and fastened in place by screws. lVithin the groove of the socket-piece a curved wedge I is passed, separate top views of the socket-piece and its wedge being shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This wedge extends in rear of the lower part of therudder-case, and by being driven endwise into the groove forces the case lirmly against the side of the groove, and thus secures in place the rear half of the bottom of the case. The remainder of the lower part of the said case is to be turned down upon and nailed to lthe outer surface of the inclined board I', which extends from the deck to the rudder-post, as shown in the drawings.

My invention is very useful not only in preventing wear and leakage of the ruddercase, but in enabling it to be readily removed from the stern-post and a new case substituted whenever occasion may require.

I claim- 1. The combination and arrangement of the adjustable clamps c f, their ring-section 71., and friction-rollers ZJ, applied to the upper part of the rudder-case and stern-post, substantially as described.

2. The combination and arrangement of lthe wedged collars d and inclined bearingpieces c g with the clamps and the frictionrollers.

3. The combination and arrangement of the curved wedge I and its grooved socketpiece H with the stern-post and rudder-case.

SAML. L. FOSTER.

lVitnesses:

y SAML. R. IIIND,

W. G. LEvr. 

